A day in the life of Raushan Utegenova

Raushan Utegenova joined Ahlers in 2017. She is a Chief Accountant at Ahlers Kazakhstan. Raushan is based in Kazakhstan, Almaty. 

Current job

  • What is your current position?  - Chief Accountant
  • What responsibilities does it entail? – The main job of the Chief Accountant is to set up and maintain accounting records to obtain complete and reliable information about the financial position of the company.
  • What is an average day like in your current position? – The usual rhythm of a Chief Accountant's life is urgent payments, filling out documents, preparing reports, and working with the tax service. Also, I monitor changes in legislation daily.

Beginnings

  • How did you get started in the industry?  I got started my accounting activities in 1999.
  • What is your (educational) background? I graduated with a bachelor's degree in Finance from the Faculty of Finance and Credit – at Kyrgyz National University - Bishkek, I have a certificate of Professional Accountant – Almaty, I studied DipIFR (basics of international financial Reporting ACCA) at Ernst & Young – Almaty, and I also have a certificate of Tax Consultant – Almaty.
  • What positions have you held before this one?  - At the end of the 90s, it was very difficult to get a job in second-tier banks. In order not to waste time, I went to study accounting in companies. From 1999 to 2006 I worked as an accountant, since 2007 – having studied the entire field of accounting – I left to work independently as a Chief Accountant. The last company I worked for before Ahlers was the Italian transport and logistics company TUVIA with its head office in Milan.
  • Do you have a mentor or someone that significantly helped you get to where you are today?  Mentors were rather parents who instilled the basics of hard work and learning.

Evolution

  • How has your field evolved since you began? 

A lot has changed. First, the Internet appeared. Next - electronic reporting, and electronic payments, whereas previously it was necessary to print all documents and stay in queues.

  • How do you see it evolving further? 

We are very much looking forward to and hope that Kazakhstan will soon switch to electronic document management without paper print

  • What changes would you like to see? 

Simplification of the taxation system in Kazakhstan.

Company

  • What makes your company different from its competitors?   

Ahlers differs from its competitors by many years of experience.

Social

  • What do you like most about your job? 

There are many advantages to the work of accountants, for example, logical thinking develops. Japanese crosswords and puzzles are just nothing in comparison with the formation of accounting statements, so the brain is always at work.

  • What would you like people to know about your job? 

People in this profession are irreplaceable in the modern world. They are needed everywhere, at any enterprise, and in any organization.

  • What do you think the industry could do to attract more youth?  

The main thing for young people is the opportunity for personal and professional growth. Accordingly, those companies that provide various development programs, training courses, and vocational training systems become the most attractive for them. It is also necessary to pay more attention to the amount of remuneration.

  • What do you do when you are not in the office?  

I spend my free time outside the office with my family. We like to go on vacation together, go to the mountains, to the cinema, and even cook delicious dishes.